2012:140 - Aghadachor, Donegal

NMI Burial Excavation Records

County: Donegal Site name: Aghadachor

Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 12E080

Author: Martin McGonigle

Site type: Testing, possible burnt mound

Period/Dating:

ITM: E 613231m, N 936584m

Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 55.176360, -7.792300

A programme of monitored test trenching was conducted across the site of a proposed development at, Aghadachor, Carrigart, Co. Donegal.  This involved the excavation of 16 test trenches of varying sizes comprising a total area of 2750m² and an area at the end of Test trench 15 area measuring 96m², giving a total tested area of 2846m². Large portions of the site were previously stripped of topsoil during earlier development of the site.

Numerous stone drains were identified in the test trenches, though these are thought to be modern in date. A large number of potential features were investigated, but all proved to be either topsoil-filled hollows or shallow drains, some of which were dated by sherds of modern glass and ceramics. One piece of flint was found in topsoil from Test trench 2, though it was not associated with any feature. The ephemeral remains of a possible burnt mound were uncovered at the north-eastern end of Test trench 15 (NGR 10521 33198). An area measuring 96m2 was stripped around this feature to find its extent. The feature consisted of a possible pit (trough?) measuring approximately 1.5m by 1m and an ephemeral, almost linear spread measuring  approximately 5m in length and 1m in width. This part of the field had been stripped of topsoil during previous development on the site. It appears that much of the burnt mound was removed at this time. A walkover of the stripped area did not produce any other features of archaeological significance. The burnt mound was covered over with plastic and reburied. No artefacts were found during a scan of the topsoil from any of the trenches.

John Cronin and Associates, 28 Upper Main St., Buncrana, Co. Donegal